So Cal...

So we did do one big, crazy thing over spring break (aside from trying life with 10 children in the house).  

Let me back up, most of the time we don't do anything for school breaks.  

With five children it is easier to stay put and enjoy the comforts of home without the stress of school.  Moreover, vacations that don't involve visiting family are a financial luxury we are not budgeting for just yet.  Spring break 2015 was shaping up to be another week at home.  It was Monday and the kids and I had spent an hour at the library stocking up on books, movies and books on CD for the week ahead.  I took the kids to McDonalds--one with a play place because I am not an animal--for lunch and was watching them play when Will sent me a text: "Let's go to SoCal for the next couple of days."

That seemed exciting.  After a little discussion I headed home and started packing up the car.  We left the house around 6:00 pm for the drive south.  Will had meetings in all of the Southern California offices and I had plans to see my Aunt Colleen and Uncle Richard who live in the area.  Originally, we were going to stay in an hotel near Will's first stop for his meetings but one of his friends offered to let us crash at his house for the night...  

So around 1:00 in the morning we bundled all of our sleeping children into Will's friend (and co-worker's) house.  Will had early meeting so we missed seeing him off a few hours later but we got to explore the area and go to the beach before heading to my Aunt's house.

First, we found a sweet little park right at the end of the street where we were staying.  The kids played in the fresh air while I cleaned up the mess we had made at our host's house and packed up the car. 

Then it was Panera Bread for breakfast. (Hot chocolates around!)  We were quite the motley looking crew.

We needed some sunscreen and snacks at Target before we headed to the beach.  I love, love, love Southern California beaches.  They are just right there, everywhere!  You don't have to cross a mountain range to get to them (neatly avoiding carsickness).  You don't have to pack a winter parka and a bathing suit for a few hours of play (neatly avoiding carsickness all over jackets and blankets).  AND the water is a heck-of-a-lot warmer than any ocean I've ever touched.  I cannot figure out how the ocean water up here in Northern California is part of the same body of water as the Southern California beaches?  I think there is a glacier hiding just under the surface of our coastal water because it is limb-numbingly cold.   

Anyway, we just drove up highway 1 and parked as soon as we could.  Perfection.

Lorien did not cope well driving through half the night and sleeping in a strange bed.  She spent most of the time sacked out on the sand (and had the sunburn on the back of her legs to prove it).

It was glorious!  After several hours of sand in our cheeks we headed over to my Aunt Colleen's house.  Colleen and Richard are Saints in our family.  They keep their home open to visitors all the time--regardless of how much lead time you give them before stopping by. They are kind and fun and seem genuinely happy to see us even though our children trash their house within seconds of arrival.  Bless them, bless them forever.

Two minutes after we got to Aunt Colleen's house it started raining.  The kids couldn't believe it and had to go out in the rain.

Colleen and Richard also have the coolest back yard with a pool, lovely garden AND a tree house!  More paradise?  Yes!

The cherry on top of our visit was Uncle Richard showing Colter the cool cars Uncle Richard fixes up.  They were super cool!  Colter never wanted to leave the garage.  

It was a short trip but a good one.  Will got some important work done, I got to take the kids to the beach and see family, and the kids got to go on an adventure.  It was awesome.  A million thanks to Sam for letting us destroy his house for one night.  And another million thanks to Aunt Colleen for letting us destroy her house for two nights!